Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4,173, Reese Evans, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn
Evans, Reese Graff, Ruth (Former Widow)
R 4,173
CONTENTS
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Declarations No. 7824
Ruth Goaff.
In widow of
Reese Harris
Pa
July 4. 1836
Referred to me by Chas. Hall, July 18/52.
Rev John McNair House of Reps.

State of } ss Pennsylvania }
On the Twenty Sixth day of May - One Thousand eight hundred and fifty two, Personally appeared before the Subscriber, one of the Judges of the Courts of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Ruth Evans, a resident of Upper Providence township, in the said County of Montgomery, aged Ninety six years, on the 20 th day of June last. Who being duly affirmed according to law doth on her solemn Affirmation, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed July 4 th 1836 and that of any other acts of Congress that may apply to her case, That she is the widow of Reese Evans, late of the aforesaid County of Montgomery deceased; That her said husband rendered important Services to his country during the Revolutionary war; That he engaged in his country's service in the year One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Seven - That a part of the time, he served as a Recruiting Officer - That she recollects on several occasions, his bringing recruits to his own house and keeping them there until they were taken to Head Quarters - That he was attached to Captain Christie's company as second Lieutenant, in which capacity he joined the same - and that he belonged to the division of General Wayne - That he participated in the battle of Brandywine - That he was engaged in the battle of Germantown, and her impression is, that was at the Paoli massacre, also, And she further states, that her belief strongly is, although she is not positively certain, that his whole term of service, amounted, in the aggregate to, about three years
She further declares, that she was married to the said Reese Evans in the year, One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy six by the Reverend Mr. Schlater at Germantown, Penn a - and that her said husband, Reese Evans, died in the year One Thousand Seven hundred and eighty three, at the "Head of Elk" where he had gone on a visit to some friends, That she remained a widow, until the year Seventeen hundred and ninety, when she became intermarried with John Graff, who died on the 12 th day of December 1823, and that she now is, and has been, a widow ever since that time
She also states that owing to the great lapse of time, since the revolutionary services of her said husband, Reese Evans, she knows of no person

Person ling who has any knowledge of the same. And also that She has no other documents, in relation to her case, than those which accompany this declaration
She further states, that she has thought it most proper to make this declaration in the name of her first husband Ruth Evans , as she has been placed, and now is, on the Pennsylvania pension list, as his widow, in that name, as will appear from the accompanying certified copy of the law granting her said pension -
Affirmed and subscribed to, on the day and year above written before me -
her Ruth X Evans mark
Henry Longaker Special Judge of Montgomery County Penn a
(We, the Subscribers, that is to say. Henry S. Miller, a Clergyman, residing in the township of Upper Providence, County of Montgomery, Penn a - And Joseph Royer residing in the same place, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with the above named, Ruth Evans, who has affirmed, and subscribed to, the foregoing declaration - That she is a person of good character and unquestionable credibility. That we have known her for several years. That we believe her to be, upwards of Ninety Six years old - That she is reputed to and be believed to be, in the neighborhood where she resides, the widow of a revolutionary soldier, Reese Evans, and in that belief we fully concur,
And the said Henry S. Miller further certifies, that she now is, and has been for upwards of the last eighteen years a regular communicant member of the church, of which he is Pastor -
Sworn and subscribed to on the day and year aforesaid before me -
H S Miller Jos: Royer
Henry Longaker Special Judge of Montgomery County

And I do hereby declare that after the investigation of the matter, it is my opinion, that the above named Ruth Evans, is the widow of a revolutionary Soldier, Reese Evans, That I believe her character for veracity and respectability to be unquestionable — And that she is, owing to bodily infirmity, consequent on her great age, unable to attend court —
And I further certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Henry S. Miller, and the above named Joseph Royer — The said H. S. Miller is a clergyman, and the said Joseph Royer is also a man of good reputation, he has represented this county in the State Legislature, and for several years was one of the Judges of our county courts. They are near neighbors to the applicant, are both men of high character and credit, and their statement is entitled to undoubted belief —
Witness my hand, date aforesaid — Henry Longaker
Associate Judge of Montgomery County
State of Pennsylvania,
Montgomery County ss.
I Nathaniel Jacoby Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas in & for said county of Montgomery in the State aforesaid. Do certify that Henry Longaker Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits were taken and made and whose genuine signature appears thereto was at the time of taking said affidavits and now is one of the Judges of the court of Common Pleas of & in said county of Montgomery in the State aforesaid, duly commissioned, sworn, and acting as such and is duly authorized by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to administer oaths and affirmations etc. —
Witness my hand and the seal of said court at Norristown, June 14 th A.D. One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two —
Nathaniel Jacoby Protho.

Copy of Records in the matter of the Real Estate of Nesbitt Evans, de d

In the Orphans' Court of Montgomery County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
At an Orphans' Court held for the County of Montgomery at the House of John Shannon in Norriton Township in the said County, the twenty ninth day of December in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty four. Before Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg James Morris and John Richards Esquires Judges of the said Court.
The Petition of John Brooks of New Hanover township Montgomery County (Guardian to Mary Evans only Child of Rees Evans deceased) and Ruth Evans widow of the said Rees Evans, was presented and read.
Humbly sheweth
That the said Rees Evans died seized of a consi- derable real Estate in the township of New Hanover aforesaid to which the said Mary Evans and his widow are by law entitled. — Your Petitioners therefore pray the Court will be pleased to allow them to nominate four men as directed by Act of Assembly to ascertain the said widows dower, and they will pray.
John Brooks Ruth his Evans marks.
Whereupon it is ordered by the Court that Israel Jacobs, Alexander Anderson, Francis Hobson and David Evans do make partition or valuation of the lands whereof the said Rees Evans died seized According to an Act of Assembly of the late Province of Pennsylvania in such case made and Provided &c. And that they make return thereof to Our next Orp- hans' Court to be held on the thirty first day of March next. — And afterwards, to wit, at

an Orphans' Court held as aforesaid at the house of John Shannon as aforesaid the 31 st day of March 1785. Before John Richards, Michael Kroll & Henry Scheetz Esq rs . Justices &c.
An Motion of Thomas Rapp Esq rs . The Court continued the said four men, to wit: Israel Jacobs, Alexander Anderson, Francis Hobson and David Evans to make partition &c of the Real Estate of said Rees Evans dec d , and directed them to Report at the next Orphans' Court to be held in June next. And now, to wit at an Orphans' Court held as aforesaid the 27 th day of June 1785. The said four men made Report as follows viz d .
To the Honorable the Justices of the next Orphans' Court to be held at the house of John Shannon in and for the County of Montgomery.
We the subscribers in pursuance of the within Order, having viewed the Lands & Tenements whereof the within named Rees Evans died seized, find them to consist of two Messuages, Plantations and Tracts of Land, situate in the Township of New Hanover, one of them adjoining the River Schuylkill, containing by Estimation One hundred and five Acres or thereabouts. The Other of them containing about forty five Acres, are of opinion that said Lands cannot be divided and parted, so as to allot to Ruth Evans the widow in the said Order named, One third part thereof without prejudice to the whole; Therefore have Estimated and valued, and by these presents do estimate and value the said Ruth Evans's Dower in the same yearly and every year during the term of her natural life at the sum of Thirteen pounds Thirteen Shillings and Nine pence Current money of Pennsylvania at its present value; And further we do find the said Lands and Tenements are subject to the payment of the sum of

Eight pounds six shillings and eight pence to a certain Elizabeth Evans (widow and relict of Benjamin Evans late father of said Rees) as her dower in said Lands during the natural life of her the said Elizabeth Evans Wherefore we further Judge That if the said Ruth Evans shall survive the said Elizabeth, the Dower of the said Ruth shall from thenceforward be increased by the sum of two pounds fifteen shillings and six pence half penny, it being one third part of the said Elizabeths Dower as aforesaid; Which Dower, so by us valued is intended to be subject to a proportionable part of all Taxes and Assessments hereafter to be levied on the said Lands during the continuance of the said Dower. In Testimony whereof we have hereunto set Our hands this Eighteenth day of April 1785.
(Signed)
Israel Jacobs
Alexand. Anderson
Francis Hobson
David Evans
Whereupon it is considered and ordered by the Court that the above Valuation and Assignment of Dower, and all things therein Contained be and remain firm and stable forever.
Montgomery County ss.
Washington Richards Clerk of the Orphan's Court for the County of Montgomery in Pennsylvania Do Certify the above and foregoing to be a true copy of the proceedings of the Real Estate of Rees Evans dec d of the said Co. as the same remains of Records in my Office.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Affixed the Seal of said Court at Norristown this 10 th day of June A D 1852.
Washington Richards Clerk C.C.

Mary Gross born the 15 th Day of November A.D. 1777, Died November the 16 th A.D. 1812, Aged thirty five years and one day
I do hereby Certify that the above and foregoing inscription is a true abstract taken by me from the tomb Stone, of the said Mary Gross, on the day and date hereof, and also that the said above named Mary Gross was the Daughter of Reese Evans and Ruth Evans, late Ruth Gross, and so considered in law - In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set My hand this thirtieth day of November A.D. 1852!
Sworn and subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace in and for Montgomery County Penn ty this 30 th Day of November A.D. 1852 J. E. Koons J.P.
John E. Gross
State of Pennsylvania Montgomery County ss,
I Nathaniel Sacry, Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Montgomery in the State of Pennsylvania aforesaid Do hereby Certify that J. E. Koons Esq., before whom the above and foregoing affidavit of John E. Gross Esq., was taken and made, was at the time of taking the same and now is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly elected, Commissioned, sworn and legally Authorized to take acknowledgements, Deeds and

other Instruments of writing and to administer oaths and affirmation and that the signature annexed to the foregoing Affidavit & Certificate is genuine and in the proper handwriting of the said J. E. Koons Esq. and that said Court is a court of record. And I further Certify that I am well acquainted with the within named John E. Koons (of the Township of Upper Prov- idence in said County) - for several years a rep- =resentative from said County of Montgomery in the State Legislature, and know him to be a man of strict veracity and integrity and worthy of belief.
Witness My hand and the Seal of said Court at Norristown the 14 th day of December A.D., 1852.
Nath l Jacoby Prothon.

43 P. O.
Ruth Graft Service:
Former wif. of Reese Evans PROJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

7.824 Ruth Graft widow of Reese Evans Pa
Hon. J. M. Cain July 19/52 (22) J. P. Keely 23. Jany. 1852. Same 13. March 1854 Hon. J. M. Cain May 29. 1852 Same July 13/1852 J. P. Keely 22 nd Sept. 1852. Hon. Owen Jones Jan 30/58 58
4, 73

16/ Hoover Montgomery Ruth Evans wife Rev. Lola. wd. A.D. Mar 5 1833.
Clem
A petition of Deborah Evans & widow of a late father praying for release
Miss. Magine obtained a decree in 1833. of which you are still informal to the state Department of Revenue
error
ATTN

16/ Hoover Montgomery Ruth Evans wid Rev. Lola. rel. AN Mar 5 1833.
Clem
Document of Health Eastern & Western of a Petition of Health Eastern & Western of a Petition of Health Eastern & Western
With Love & Kindness a Petition of Health Eastern & Western information by which it is information to the State Deacon of America
Clem
AN

To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives in General assembly Met
The petitioner Ruth Evans Respectfully Sheweth that she was Married to Reece Evans in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Seventy Six and that her husband Reece Evans entered the Service in the Revolutionary war, in the year seventeen hundred seventy Seven, that he was a Recruiting officer and brought his recruits into his own house, and kept them untill they could be removed to head quarters, he then joined Captain Christies Company as a Second Lieutenant, Belonging to General Wayne division, and was in the battel at Brandywine & Germantown, and your petitioner believes he was also at Paoli and that Said Evans Served at least seven Months in the Revolution,
Your petitioner is now poor and unable to procure the evidence that might be obtained was her husband yet living to tell who were his Companions in arms During the Struggle for those liberties, which we now enjoy, those whom your petitioner knows knew as the Com- -panions, and Brother Soldiers of her husband have been swept by the hand of death from this Stage of life, and left your petitioner to the mercy of a just Legislature praying that her claim May be granted Witness Present C. H. Waldman Andrew Todd
Ruth her Evans mark

Montgomery County ss
Personally appeared before And d Lodd a justice of the peace in and for said County. Ruth Evans named in the forgoing Petition who, on this solemn affirmation doth Declare and say that the foregoing statement is correct and true given under my hand Seal this 28 th day of February 1833
And d Lodd
We the under signed do certify that your Petitioner Ruth Evans is a person long since well known to us for veracity. We therefore recommend her to the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives as a person well worthy your confidence. Witness our hands and Seals this 28 th day of February A.D. 1833
Montgomery County ss
affirmed and subscribed
before me And d Lodd a justice of the peace for said County
M. Holdeman
Joseph Heneks
Montgomery County ss
We the subscribers Two of the Justices of the peace in and for said County do certify that the above named Mathews Holdeman and Joseph Heneks are Respectable Citizens of our County given under our hands Seals this 28 th day of February 1833
And d Lodd

Strasburg June 15 th 1852
Hon. John McEwen
Or Sir
I herewith Send you the Declaration of Ruth Evans widow of Reese Evans Dec d , a Revolutionary Soldier, together with the accompanying documents relative to her application to the Pension Office to ob- tain the benefit of the several Acts passed by Con- gress for the relief of widows of Revolutionary soldiers &c. The Certified Copy of the proceedings of the Court of Montgomery County, herewith forward- ed, are intended to prove her Marriage with the said Reese Evans Dec d , Believing said record will be to the Department, satisfactory evidence of the fact, Should it however not be satisfactory to the Pension Agent, we have one other Method of prov- ing her Marriage it is this, The record of her Marriage to Reese Evans, kept by the Rev d M c Schlatter who Married them, is now in the hands of Thomas Wright Clark No. 142, Market Street Philadelphia, but without date, this want of date, would subject us to the trouble and expense of first getting the said record, and then go to Chesnut Hill and there get the affidavit of an Old gentleman, who

Can testify that Said Record was kept or Made at Chesnut Hill previous to a Certain period of time, which affidavit properly got up. I have no doubt would be conclusive and satisfactory evidence of the Marriage, and will be forwarded, if required, with as little little delay as possible -
The Petition herewith transmitted, upon which she obtained an annuity from the State of Pennsylvania, May require some explanation from me, as it differs somewhat in time from the present Declaration, and being a witness therunto, as will appear, by reference to said Document. I have a distinct recollection of the Circumstances which led to that difference, her friends who interested themselves in her behalf, were the late Governor Shunk then Clerk of the House of Representatives, General John E. Gregg, then a Representative of this County in the State Legislature, and Thomas J. Gregg then Assistant Clerk of the same House. These Gentlemen, being her personal friends, informed her that Six Months Service, was all that was necessary to procure a Distress Pension, and she being at all times careful and anxious to be entirely within bounds as to time, and as will appear, by reference to her Petition and her present Declaration, I therefore stated in her Petition, at least eleven Months - I will here state that I have been for the last thirty Seven years personally acquainted with the above named applicant,

a frequent visitor of the family, during her last husbands life time, and ever since his death; She has been an inmate of My own family, and I can and do Most Conscientiously Say that ever since I have known her she always Spoke of her husbands Service during three years or more in the in the Revolutionary war, and that he was a recruiting Officer, and that he frequently brought recruits home to his own House, and kept them there until they were removed to head quarters and that when he returned from the battle of Brandywine, his face was blackened, with Powder and Smoke, and that had a bullet hole in his hat &c. I might mention some other incidents not mentioned in her Declara- tion, but the past suffice —
I also State that I wrote Some time since, to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania, requesting him to examine the rolls, and send me a Certified Copy, of Reuse Evans Service, I have now a letter before Me, from G. B. Laird Esq., a Military Clerk, in which he States, that he has made as care- ful a Search as as facilitated State of Papers will admit without effect. You will naturally perceive, that the great lapse of time, has de- prived her, in all probability of this most im- portant testimony, and I do know, that it has deprived her of other direct testimony which might have been produced, from his & her friends and Companions, were they now living but they have all passed from time to Eternity. Many of whom I might name, but that would

be of no account —
I therefore hope you will present this case with all the accompanying documents to the Pension Department, and I trust the Agent of Pensions, will give it that calm and liberal consideration, which the case seems to demand.
Yours Most Respectfully
C. M. Waldeman
Hon. John C. McShane C.M.B.

copy of the Law
Fees $1.00

Section 2 And be it further enacted by the authority of the same That the State Treasurer be and he is hereby authorized and required to pay to Jane Weiler and Susan Mosher of Lancaster county Magdalena Gensler and Susana Herrman of York county Ann McNeil of Chester county Rachael McCoy of Northumberland county Catherine Strohl of Northampton county and Ruth Evans of Montgomery county the widows of soldiers of the revolutionary war or to their respective orders forty dollars to each immediately and an annuity of forty dollars to each during life payable half yearly to commence on the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three
Secretary's Office
Pennsylvania fr.
I do hereby certify that the foregoing and annexed is a true and correct copy of section 2 of the original Act of the General Assembly entitled "An Act for the relief of sundry soldiers and widows of soldiers of the revolutionary war" approved the sixth day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three as the same remains on file in this office
In Testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the Secretary's Office to be affixed this tenth day of March A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two and of the Commonwealth the seventy sixth.
E. I. Goodrich
Dep. Secy. of the Commonwealth

A Pay Roll for that part of the Pennsylvania Volun- teers, commonly called seven months men, which were enlisted in the county of Philadelphia and joined the Continental army in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty.
    Number Name Pay from the miserly & divine until the first of August at the exchange of 15 continental ad- lars for one of state money Pay for five months and a half at 50 per month State mo- ney Whole pay for seven months   £ s d £ s d £ s d     44 Reese Crans 0 1 0 13 15 0 13 16 0   
I do hereby certify that this is a true pay roll of the Pennsylvania new Volunteers or Seven months men that was enlisted in Philadelphia county according as they were returned to me by the Sub Lieutenants.
Robert Keller
October 21 st 1752
Paymaster of the Middlesex Phila County.

Secretary's Office
Pennsylvania, S.S. 322  Attorney
I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of extracts from the "pay roll" for that part of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, commonly called Seven months men, which were enlisted in the county of
Philadelphia and joined the continental army in the year one Thousand seven hundred and eighty as the same remains on file in this office.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the Secretary's Office to be affixed at Harrisburg, this Seventh day of July A. D. one Thousand eight hundred and fifty. Thos.
E. S. Gorgas Dep. Sec. of the Commonwealth

20 Nappe November 26 th 1853 John V. Kelly Esq., Dr Sir
I herewith send you Such additional Evidence as I have been able to procure in relation to Ruth Graffs, formerly wid- ow of Reese Evans; Application, for a pension under the several Acts of Congress of the U.S. Made some time in 1852. The one Certificate herewith forwarded shows Record evidence of Seven Months Service in the year 1880, And that in the Continental Army, as you will see on examining the papers. The other Certificate shows a return of services in 1778. You will perceive, that between these two dates there is a period of two years without showing any thing more than Seven months ser- vice. Now her Declaration sets forth that her hus- band Reese Evans, served in the aggregate about three years. It also sets forth that he entered the service in the year 1777, and that a part of his time he was a Recruiting Officer, Enlisted men to the service &c.
I also herewith send you the Testimony of George Yorger, a man of the most vigorous recollection of things, not only of the particulars to which he has tes- tified to in this case, but of every thing else that has transpired during his long life, of these facts. I could procure some scores of witnesses, if necessary Most of whom however, would be unknown to the Prothonotary of this county, Who therefore could not testify to the characters of such an array of names for truth veracity. I have therefore only present- ed the names of the Hon. Joseph Royer, and Isaac Lindeman Esq., Who were well known to the said Pro- thonoter, Who has certified to their high Reputation.
It will also be remembered, that at the time her Declaration and application, was presented to the Com

Commissioner of Pensions, That we had no Record evidence of Service at all, and Owing to the Dilapidated State of the Records at Harrisburg, we had no hope of Obtaining any, and had Submitted the Case Just as it was presented at the time. But the Commissioner of Pensions in a letter Dated July 19 th 1852, (which is now before me,) required Some Record Evidence of Service &c. Ever Since which time, I have laboured, and with Much labour, Difficulty, and expense, have Obtained That which is herewith transmitted. The great lapse of time has Created all the difficulty, For, twenty years back to My own Certain knowledge, it Could have been proved by a number of living Witnyses, but they have been all gathered to their Fathers, Save only Mr. Yorge who alone is left to tell the truth.
Now it Must be evident to all Concerned, that this is no Sham Case, but a Just Claim. When we take into consideration the Old lady's Declaration, Supported as it is, with the most respectable Testimony and George Yorges testimony, Supported in like Manner, who testifies, that he was personally acquainted with the Said Reese Evans, and that he knew him to have enlisted Men for the Service of his County. Corroborating the testimony of the Old lady, as to length of time and kind of Service rendered, This testimony together with a few scattering fragments of Records picked up after more than one years Diligent Search, amongst disorderled papers show at least Service rendered, Since That Service, upon a reasonable construction, Must have been from two to three years. You have no doubt perceived that I have heretofore Stated that the first Certificate shows Seven months Service and the other shows no period of Service and leaving a Space of two years between the two Dates for which he has no Credit at all for service.

rendered during that period of time, of which there can be no doubt but that he served during that time, from other testimony in the case. Such as her Declaration, & Col. Gorgery Testimony &c. I see term of service mentioned in the one Record. This is altogether owing to the loose inaccurate and unsatisfactory state of the Records at Harrisburg. In proof of which I have a note in my possession from George Printed Oct. 19 th 1852 Laird Esq., Military Clerk at Harrisburg Pa., in which in answer to enquiries made by me he states ("I am sorry that I have been unable to discover any thing that would throw some light upon this Claim because I am perfectly satisfied that it is a just one, and one that should should be paid. The very few papers however connected with Revolutionary Service almost in every case are of such a nature as can be of little service at this late day there were 116,000 men from this State in that Service, yet the names of only about 13,000 appear on record in this Office, at the present time, - from that fact you can judge that not one claim in five can be made out from our records")
Now it is very reasonable that the time of service omitted in the Certificate referred to and the time of service mentioned in the other will make the whole time accord with that stated in the Declaration to say nothing about a years service claimed previous to the date of the Certificate of 1778, for it is alleged that he entered the service in 1779, admitting this (and I have no doubt it ) and his services must have very nearly reached four years if not quite.
It might probably be thought that there ought to be some Revolutionary papers of the family adduced in support of this Claim. It will however be recollected that this Soldier died in the year 1783, and that his affairs were then or soon after settled.

and papers that now might be very important were then considered useless, and consequently lost or destroyed his widow moreover, although a person of good common intelligence and respectability, like women of that day in the country, was somewhat deficient in Edu- cation, and might have destroyed them with her own hands without knowing their import, not being able to read writing, at all events those papers were not preserved, under other circumstances they might have been preserved as Revolutionary Relics.
I now submit this case to the commissioner of Pensions with a full conviction that after examining all the papers relative to this claim, and taking into consideration all the circumstances connected with the case will report favourable and that too at an early day, as the case has been long on hand, owing to the difficulty of obtaining testimony from the broken records of the Commonwealth.
Yours very
Respectfully C. M. Waldeman
N.B. The letter above referred to, from the commissioner of Pensions, requested also a Certificate, proving her mar- riage with Reese Evans, before service was rendered. I therefore procured a Certificate from the tombstone showing that the birth of her child by Reese Evans, was was born in the year 1777, and of course according to the natural course of things, show ing that the marriage must have taken place in the year 1776, as set forth in her declaration, and adds another link to the chain of evidence. Sustaining the correctness of her declaration, this Certificate was forwarded last Feb- ruary, but with other papers was said to be lost, you will therefore please ascertain, whether it is in the Pension Office or not, if not I will forward it with as little delay as possible.
Yours & C. M. Waldeman

State of Pennsylvania County of Montgomery) S.S.
I George Yorgey, of Limerick Township in the County of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, Do Depose and Say, that I was personally acquainted with Reese Evans, a Revolutionary Soldier, and that the said Reese Evans was an Officer in the Revolutionary war, and to My certain knowledge, he as a Captain or Lieutenant, enlisted men in My neighbourhood for the Revolutionary war, and previous to the Battle of Brandywine, in the year Seventeen hundred Seventy Seven, and that to the best of My knowledge the said Reese Evans, served in the Revolutionary war, for at least two years or more, and I do further say, that I was personally acquainted with Ruth Evans, the widow of the aforesaid Reese Evans, and that they were married previous to the Battle of Brandywine fought in the year 1777, and further, that after the death of Reese Evans, the said Ruth Evans, widow of Reese Evans, intermarried with John Graff, and that the said John Graff has been dead for about thirty years, and that the said Ruth Graff, remained a widow ever since —
In Witness whereof I have hereunto Subscribed My name this third day of October A. D. 1853 in the eighty fourth year of My age —
George Yorgey
State of Pennsylvania, Montgomery County S.S.
Be it Remembered, That on the third day of October A. D. 1853, Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County

of Montgomery, the above named George Yorgen, and upon his solemn affirmation, did depose and say, that the facts set forth in the foregoing Affidavit, are true in every particular, to the best of his knowledge and belief. And I do further certify that I have been personally acquainted with the said George Yorgen for many years, and that he is a man of strict veracity and every way worthy of belief. I also certify, that he possesses a sound and vigorous mind to a remarkable degree not the least impaired by old age — In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written —
Samuel Loucks
We the undersigned subscribers do certify that we are and have been personally acquainted for many years with the above named George Yorgen and that he is a man of truth and veracity and worthy of belief —
In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this third day of October A.D. 1853 —
Isaac Lindeman J. S. Royer
State of Pennsylvania Montgomery County, ss.
I Nathaniel Jacob, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Montgomery in the State aforesaid do certify that Samuel Loucks Esq. before whom the foregoing & annexed Affidavit of George Yorgen was taken and made was at the time of taking the same and now is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Montgomery in the State aforesaid duly elected, commissioned & qualified and legally authorized by the laws of said State to

take acknowledgements of Deeds and other Instruments of writing and to administer oaths and affirmations for general purposes, that the signature annexed to the foregoing Certificate is genuine and in the proper handwriting of said Samuel Loucks Esq. And that said Court is a Court of record. And I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the before named Joseph Voyer and Isaac Linderman Esquires, formerly Associate Judges of said Court, and also the above & before named Isaac Linderman, for many years an acting Magistrate of in and for said County, And that they are gentlemen of Character and high standing for truth and veracity wherever known —
Witness my hand and the seal of said Court this 12 th day of October A. D. One thousand eight hundred and fifty three —
Sath l Jacoby Proth ry .

State of Pennsylvania Montgomery County ss.
I John E Grop of the Township of Upper Providence in the county of Montgomery and State aforesaid. Do hereby certify that I have examined the tomb Stone of Mary Grop, upon which is inscribed as follows viz Mary Grop. Born November the 15 th A.D. 1777. Departed this life November 16 th A.D. 1812. aged thirty five years and one day, and that the foregoing is a true and perfect copy of the Inscription. taken by me, from the tomb Stone, in St Augustus Churchyard, Trappe in the Township county and State aforesaid and that I believe the date of her birth, and the date of her death are correctly set forth therein, and I do further certify that the said Mary Grop was the daughter of Reese Evans, and Ruth Evans and that the said Mary was Born in lawful wedlock, and also that the said Ruth Evans and now Ruth Grop widow of Reese Evans Dec d , and now applying for a pension under the several Acts of the Congress of the U.S. are one and the same Identical Person given under my hand this first day of December A.D. 1853
Jn. E. Grop
State of Pennsylvania Montgomery County ss.
Be it remembered That on the first day of December A.D. 1853. Personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Montgomery and State aforesaid the above named John E Grop and upon his solemn Oath Did depose and

Say that the facts set forth in the above affidavits to which he has subscribed his name in his own proper hand writing, are true to the best of his knowledge and belief. And I do further certify that I have been for many years personally acquainted with the said John E Gross formerly a member of the Legislature of this State and that he is a person of High Standing wherever known, for truth and veracity and well worthy of belief.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set My hand and Seal the Day and year above written
Henry Longaker
State of Pennsylvania Montgomery County ss,
I Nathaniel Jacoby, Notary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Montgomery in the State aforesaid do hereby certify that Henry Longaker Esq. before whom the foregoing Affidavits of John E Gross were taken and made was at the time of taking the same and now is one of the Judges of the said Court of Common Pleas of said County of Montgomery in the State aforesaid duly elected, Commissioned and qualified and legally authorized by the laws of said State to administer Oaths and affirmations for general purposes and to take Acknowledgements of Deeds & other Instruments of writing, that the signatures annexed to the foregoing Certificates are genuine and in the proper handwriting of said Henry Longaker Esq. and that said Court is a Court of record.
Witness my hand and the seal of said Court this third day of December A.D. 1853- Nathl Jacoby, Notary. per Saml Evans, C.R.

1812 1775
My Dear and Loving wife Mary D Departed her Life on Monday the Seventh day of November 1812 at 6 O'clock in the morning in the year of Our Lord A. D. One Thousand eight hundred and twelve 1812 age 35 years 1 day. Yea in day In charge with me 18.7.13 Sam d Gross
I John E Gross of Upper Providence Township Montgomery County & State of Pennsylvania upon My solemn Oath Duly administered Do Cer- tify that I am the oldest Son of Samuel Gross late of Said County Dec d who was intermarried with Mary Evans only Child of Revere Evans Dec d That I part fifty eight years of age, and that the annexed paper, now is in the proper hand writing of My Said father and that it contains the correct age and time of the death of My Said Mother, and that the Signature is genuine
Sworn and subscribed before me one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County this first Day of December 1853
John E. Gross
Henry Langsdon

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania } S.S.
Personally came before me M. Haldeman one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Montgomery. The undersigned Subscriber Gen. John E. Gross, who upon his solemn Oath, by me administered according to law, Did depose and say, that he is the Grand Son of Reese Evans and Ruth Graff former widow of Reese Evans Decd, and that from the best information Received from his parents, the said Reese Evans, mentioned in the accompanying Records of Service, Rendered by the said Reese Evans, was the Identical husband of Ruth Graff, former widow of Reese Evans, and was always so reputed, and also that he is now in the fifty ninth year of his age.
Sworn and subscribed this 11 th day of May A. D., 1854 before me
Jn. E. Gross.
M. Haldeman
Comth. of Pennsylvania County of Montgomery
I, Nathaniel Seebly, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Montgomery, in the State of Pennsylvania, do hereby certify that M. Haldeman Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavit of John E. Gross was made and taken, was at the time of taking the same, and now is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly elected commissioned and qualified, and that full faith and credit are due to all his acts as such, as well in Courts of Justice as elsewhere, and that the signature of the said M. Haldeman is genuine and in the proper handwriting of the said M. Haldeman, - and that the said Court is a Court of Record - And I do further certify that the said John E. Gross is a man of integrity and worthy of confidence - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of office - May 13 th 1854.
Nathaniel Seebly Prothonotary.

House of Representatives Washington Feb 15, 1884
Sir
Your favor is at hand. In reply I have only room to say that it appears to me the Commission of Pensions is requiring proof of you in Mrs. Duff's case, which may and necessarily must be difficult to make out.
That her husband was the identical Rube Evans whose name appears upon the State Roll, is evident I think from the simple fact that there is to be found but one Rube Evans upon the Roll. For this being the fact, and proof of her being the widow of Rube Evans being ample I think it justifies the department no longer in allowing this objection to prevail - It will be a very difficult matter for Mrs. Duff to prove to prove that there was no other Rube Evans in existence - She is however proven to have been the widow of Rube Evans, a revolutionary soldier, and the State records prove there was but one Rube Evans upon the roll. This I think would be conclusive before a jury -
Yours truly
Matthew Salomon Esq Washington
Isaac Fry Jr

Pension Office, January 23 rd 1864.
Sir: The additional evidence in the case of Ruth Griff, formerly widow of Reese Evans, of Pennsylvania, has been received.
I would inform you that the evidence is insuf- ficient to show that the widow's husband was the iden- tical Reese Evans who performed the seven months' ser- vice set forth in the certificate of the Secretary of State of Pennsylvania.
I am, respectfully, Your Abt. Secy, L. P. Walker Commissioned.
John T. Keely, Esq. Present.

Washington D.C. Jan. 19 th 1854
Sir.
Enclosed please find additional evidence in the case of Ruth Groff formerly widow of Reese Evans a Reoolfoldier of the State of Pennsylvania for a Pension under act of 1836.
Yours very respectfully
M c Intire
Comm r Pensions Washington D.C. }

Washington City Sept 17 1854
Dear Cousin
Herewith enclose additional Evidence in the Case of Mr. Nathl. Graff inasmuch as Resolves for admission under act 1836 and to which I beg you to call your attention at your earliest moment
With many Respects Yrs S. H. H. Most truly

   Names Remarks Names Remarks     Majors Company These Coans v Settled  
The foregoing is a list of the men that were enlisted for 7 months in the 1st line of Pensylvania Reserves. Those that have no remarks made against, I suppose to have continued their time out as they are chiefly found on the muster of Dec r 80.
Yours
Signed
Joseph Toward Secy of Coans.
Attest
John Veckhoiser Esqr.
Or
Pay office Phila 11 May 1885
A list of the names of the Pennsylvania Volunteers who were attested at Philadelphia and the time when.
   ✓ June 30 th 1880   162 These Coans  
The foregoing is a true list of the Volunteers attested before me.
John Heick.
August 6. 1880
A return of the names and services of the officers and privates as divided into their respective companies of the Second Battalion of Chester county militia commanded by Col. Gran Evans, April 24, 1878 ✓
London Brittan Company 8 th Capt. Evans 1 st B th Troops
Recd Coans

Pennsylvania, ss.
Secretary's Office
I do hereby certify that the foregoing are true extracts from the original papers remaining on file in this office.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Secretary's office to be affixed at Harrisburg, this nineteenth day of July A. D. one Thousand eight hundred and fifty three.
E. G. Goodrich Dep. Secretary of the Commonwealth

Feb 20/5
Paid by Mr J. Foy
J. A. Skindell

A Return of the names and surnames of the officers and privates as divided in to their respective companies, of the second Battalion of Chester County Militia commanded by Col Evan Evans April 24 th 1778
Under Brittan Company 8 th Captain Evans Lieut. Mrs. Hoopes.
Privates "Robert Roberson William Hutchinson Jeremiah Roberson James Perrine John McClintock William Cummings Joseph Cannon Reese Evans M c Whitecraft Jacob Whitecraft Joseph Allison and others"
1778 Received 7 th May a Return of the 2 d Battalion of Chester County Militia

"A List of the names of the Pennsylvania volunteers, who were attested at Philadelphia and the time when"
v "June 30 th 1780"
John Hart Micajah Posey Henry White Dennis Taggart John McAllister Reese Evans John Stuart Owen Richards John Huston Jonathan Shilton Randle McDonald Andrew Bryson Samuel Hart.
The foregoing is a true List of the volunteers attested before me,
signed John Miller August 31 st 1780

"A Pay Roll for that part of the Pennsylvania volunteers commonly called seven months men which were enlisted in the County of Philadelphia and joined the Continental Army in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty."
   "Names" Pay from the first of June until the first of August at the exchange of 75 Continental dollars for one of State money Pay for Five months and a half at 50 f per month State money Whole Pay for Seven Months   £ S D £ S D £ S D     John McAllister 0 1 0 13 15 0 13 16 0   Reese Evans 0 1 0 13 15 0 13 16 0   Jacob Breiner 0 1 0 13 15 0 13 16 0   John Hart Deserted   Samuel Robb 0 1 0 13 15 0 13 16 0   Peter Hellegass 0 1 0 13 15 0 13 16 0   Jacob Haring 0 1 0 13 15 0 13 16 0   John Rowland 0 1 0 13 15 0 13 16 0   George Fox 0 1 0 13 15 0 13 16 0  
I do hereby certify that this is a true pay Roll of the Pennsylvania Volunteers or Seven Months Men that was enlisted in Philadelphia County, according as they were returned to me by the Sub Lieutenants.
signed
Robert Loller
Pay Master of the Militia Philadelphia County
October 21 st 1782

"A Return of Seven Months men who served in Colonel Proctors Regiment of Artillery in 1780 not made up in the first Return".
"Majors Company"
Names Remarks "Jacob Bauer William Boyd settled Robert Boyd settled George Ordiner Robert Miller settled Reese Evans settled Joseph Bauer "Deserted Aug 24 th Thomas Reid" do do do"
"The foregoing is a List of the men that were enlisted for Seven Months, in the late Line of Pennsylvania Those that have no remarks made against I suppose had continued their time out as they are chiefly found in the Muster of December 80."
Yours "signed"
Joseph Small Junr Afs Commr Asst
Pay Office Phila da 17 th May 1885
John Nicholson Esq

Pennsylvania ss.
Secretary's Office
I do hereby certify that the foregoing and annexed is a true and correct Extract from the Original papers now remaining on file in this office.
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the Secretary's Office to be affixed at Harrisburg this Twenty first day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty four.
L. A. Black
Secretary of the Commonwealth